26th Annual GMHCN Consumer Conference

It was an uplifting day, and an honor for our agency to have been chosen as the recipient for the Peer Program of the Year award. We are humbled by this, and pledge to continue to move forward with innovative programming and services to those in our communities, as well as to continue the transformative work of recovery.

Inscription from the Award

PICTURING and REALIZING a life of RECOVERY, RESILLIENCY, and RESPECT
GEORGIA MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMER NETWORK
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
CSB OF MIDDLE GEORGIA
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM
DUBLIN, GA August 24, 2017

Overview of the Peer Programs

The Community Service Board of Middle Georgia (Independence House, Laurens County Site) serves an average of 40 individuals in our Peer Support program, employing an average of 10 individuals in our Supported Employment Program and an additional eight staff members who are Certified Peer Specialists working in the peer/psr programs. People with lived experience help with all aspects of services from treatment planning to facilitating groups and providing transportation. Peers also run an agency wide car wash that’s open to the public. Profits from the car wash are used to benefit the day service programs. We are also proud to mention that we began our first peer emerging adult group in 2014 out of our outpatient clinic. We have received Emerging Adult Support Services Supplemental Grants since 2014 which has allowed us to assist Emerging Adults in finding housing, enroll in GED/college classes, complete CPS/CPS-Y training, provide medication assistance, meals, and in seeking employment as well as assisting those Emerging Adults who present on crisis. A comprehensive Emerging Adult Peer Support Program was launched in June of 2016 to serve young adults ages 16-26 years of age. The services we provide are Peer Support groups, PSR-I, WHAM, Individual/Family Therapy, and CSI. In November 2016 we opened “The Den” as a program space specific to our Emerging Adults. The Community Service Board of Middle Georgia (The Lighthouse, Emanuel County Ogeechee Division site) also serves an average of 13 individuals in our Peer Support program. Some community activities include designing a t-shirt for the 2017 Respect in Recovery 5K (DBHDD) and attending various recovery rallies. There are two Certified Peer Specialists who facilitate groups. Additionally, our very own Danny Coleman has organized a community-wide recovery event at the Swainsboro Boneyard for a number of years which is well attended and open to peers, advocates, community partners, and stakeholders. Our agency embraces a strong belief in recovery and, furthermore, believes in people with lived experience. We are honored to be chosen as Peer Program of the Year and thank you for recognizing our efforts.

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We Believe

"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so."